Using Data in the Classroom, Workshop 2002

A small workshop for STEM faculty

This workshop is designed to bring together faculty from across the disciplines to better define why, how, and to what effect they use data in the classroom. Our goals are to advance the effective use of data in the classroom, to support inquiry and discovery based learning, and to inform the design of on-line data delivery tools. In particular, we hope to answer the questions:

• What are the learning goals for using data in the classroom?
  
• What do we mean by "data" in this context? Raw bits? Pictures? Model output?
  
• How do different disciplines use data in the classroom? What works?
  
• What methodologies are held in common or have wide application?
  
• What methodologies hold promise for enhancing interdisciplinary learning?
  
• How do we evaluate the impact of data-based inquiry on learning?
  
• What are the implications for:
  
  • Digital library designers and operators?
    
  • Primary providers of data (including those who provide the tools to manipulate or render data)?

To produce useful information for both the education community and digital library creators and data providers, the workshop will produce:

• A set of user scenarios for using web-based data delivery in the classroom
  
• Examples of interdisciplinary use of common datasets
  
• Thematic collection accessed through specialized portal
  
• Workshop report, summarizing the discussion including a description of the commonalties of data use across the disciplines and recommendations for NSDL